Sectional slidable shelf



April 20, 1943, E. -swEDMAN 2,317,232

SECTIONAL SLIDABLE SHELF vFiled Ot. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l n ENOCH SWEDMAN 25 'l ig F'lG. l5. l

.4` (25 27 FIG- 7. @www April 20, 1943. E. swEDMAN SECTIONAL SLIDABLE SHELF 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 20, 1941 ENOCH swEDMAN @www Patented Apr. 20, 1943 Unirse STATES rarer oFFICs SECTIONAL SLIDABLE SHELF Enoch Swedman, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Seeger Refrigerator Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application October '20, 1941, Serial No. 415,717

8 Claims. (Cl. 2li- 153) v This invention relates to a sectional Vslidable shelf for refrigerators. The shelf may be made of two or moresections which are linked tgether and which provide a shelf means in the refrigerator when the shelf is extended in a horizontal position.

A feature of the invention resides in providing a shelf for a refrigerator and similar cabinets' which may be extended to full horizontal shelf position or which may be released and moved into other positions' where the shelf has a lesser shelf area and when moved entirely out of operating position, the refrigerator compartment is entirely free of the shelf. Thus'the space in the refrigerator using'this shelf construction may have a complete horizontal shelf across the same or a partial shelf, orfthe shelf may be slid away, leaving the refrigerator compartment free of the shelf so that taller articles may be placed therein.

The shelf construction includes track-means along the side edges of the shelf to 'guidethe sliding movement thereof. The track means may be such as to provide a single sectional shelf or a double shelf track and construction may be provided. Thus one or more tracks for the shelves may be used as may be desired.

A further feature resides in providing a locking means for holding the shelf in an extended position where the entire shelving is disposed horizontally in the refrigerator compartment. The locking and adjusting meansfor the shelf also provides means for holding the shelf partly slid away with the remaining portion acting as a shelf and locked to provide a partial shelf when it is desired.

Where it is desired to provide a-pair of slidable sectional shelves operating in the same plane, a double center track may be provided which is supported at the back and extends horizontally and centrally in the refrigerator compartment, which central track portion may be provided with an adjustable standard to support the front end of the track at the proper adjusted level in the refrigerator compartment. f

With this construction, the side tracks are supported along the side walls in the refrigerator and extend down the back. Thus a pair of sectional shelves may be employed which are independently adjustable into different positions in the refrigerator compartment.

The shelf sections may be made with a wire frame and wire bars welded or secured together to provide a strong rigid frame in each section of the'shelf, and by means of lugs projecting from the framevthe shelf sections are guided along the tracks and may be locked in the Various positions.

' A further feature residesin 'providing a slidable shelf which may be `moved out of shelf operating position `in a downward direction within the refrigerator or Vcabinet to provide a larger space 'for `taller articles in the refrigerator or cabinet when desired.

It is also a feature to provide a yslidahle shelf which may be made in a single rigid shelf member slidably supported in side and vertically 'extending tracks or may be made up of shelf link portions.

These features, together with other details and objects will Yloe more fully and vclearly hereinafter set forth.

The drawings illustrate: l

Figure 1 is a 'perspective View `of an operl'refrigerator, showing this shelf constructionemployed therein.

Figure 2 is a plan view of one ofthe sectional yshelves removed from the refrigerator and supporting track.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

f'Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sectional shelf.

YFigure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figures2and4.

"Figure' is a detail top view of the doubletrack.

"showing one shelf removedfrom the 'same-'and a portion of the other adjacent shelf in the adjacent track section. j

Figure 'Tis a sectional detail in side elevation of the'tfrack portion illustratedin Figure "6.

Figure 8 isa sectional plan view transversely through the refrigerator,4 lookingy 'down on vrthe pair of slidable sectional shelves, one of which is partially receded. 1 Y

Figure 9 is a vertical section of the refrigerator looking Atov'fard one side ofthe 4center double track approximately onwthe line '9-9 ofFigure 8. Figure 10 is an enlargedldetail, partly in section, showing a'plan view ofthe .back portion of the double track and the manner in which 4the same is supported to the back wall of the refrigerator. l

Figure 1l is a front detail, a part of which is broken away, of the double center track for supporting the inner sides of the shelf sections. 'Y

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line l2--I2 of Figure 8.

Figure 13 is a section on the line I3--I3 of extended operative position in the refrigerator compartment. The shelf B may be made of two or more sections I9 and II, respectively, which are hingedly connected together by the links I2. The front section I of the shelf B is formed with a wire frame I3, the ends of which are connected to the front finishing strip I4. The strip I4 may beV decorative on the outer face as illustrated in Figure 4, orrformed in any suitable manner, but as illustrated, is of a flat nature and the ends of the wire I3 are welded to rigidly secure the same to the strip I4. The shelf section I 0 is formed with a series of small shelf wires I5 which are welded to the frame-wire I3 and to Vthe front strip I4 as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The rear shelf section II is formed with a peripheral wire frame member I6 which is continuous and the shelf wires I5 are Welded or secured to the frame member. In each shelf section, the shelf wires I5 extend parallel to each other and thereby form a smooth Wire shelf which may lie in a single plane when the sections IB and II are extended in the refrigerator as illustrated in Figure 1. The shelf may also be of full width to extend horizontally across the refrigerating compartment or the cabinet in Vwhich the shelf'is placed.

is formed with a horizontal portion extending'Y along the wall I 8 land a vertical portion which Y extends parallel with the back wall and-is spaced therefrom. The inner side I9 of the shelf supporting track may be a single track channel or a double track channel, asis illustrated in the drawings.

When it is desired to provideasingle slidable shelf B in the refrigerator Aytlie central track portion I9 is single, whereas when it is desired to provide a double slidableshelf. arrangement where the shelves B are positioned-in the same plane, then the fcentral track' I9 is double and supports the shelves as illustrated.

- The rearwall 20 of the refrigerator compartment supports the inner track portions I9 spaced from said wall by means of the bracket 2l. By

kspacing thegvertical portions ofthe trackv members I1 and I9 spaced from the'wall 2D, a space into` ywhich the Vshelf jB may slide is provided lwithinithe refrigerator-compartment of the refrigerator A.f Thus the shelf B maybe slid into this spacewith the sheii extending vertically and out of the way in the refrigerator or food compartment of the refrigerator A as illustrated in dotted outlinerin Figure 9. i

vThe horizontal portionY of the inner track member I9 is Vsupportedby theadjustable standard 22.v Thus the horizontal portion of thetrack Asection I9 may loe-readily adjusted into proper relation with the outer section or sections VI1 to engage on top of the track portions I1 and Y I9. 'I'he track lugs 24 carry the weight of the shelf B on top of the track portions I1 and `I9 as the shelf sections I0 and II are slid along'the track and back into the vertical position adjacent the wall 20 of the refrigerator. Angle lugs 25 are secured to the frame wire I3 just back of the front strip I4. The `angle lugs 25 when engaging in the recess 26 are moved back so that the horizontally extending portion 21 engages under one edge of the recess 26 of the track portions, I1 and I9 to prevent the front end of the shelf section I0 from raising away from the track portions. When it is desired to move the shelf B from its extended position, it is only necessary to engage the :front strip I4 and pull thewhole shelf forward sufficiently to free the shoulder edge 21 in the recess 2B, permitting the front end of the shelf to be lifted while engaging `the member I4 Vand then the shelf B may be slid back into the position'illustrated in Figure 8, Where the shelf may be locked in operative position with only the front section I0 acting as a shelf, leaving an open space in the` refrlgery ator in front of the shelf section I 0; however, if it is desired, the entirer shelf B Vmay be slid back into the dotted position illustrated in Figure 9, where the whole shelf B will extend vertically adjacent the rear wall 20 ,0f the refrigerator compartment.

The rear section II of the shelf B is provided with track lugs 28 which engage in the tracks I1 and I9 to hold the shelf portion II.

While the drawings illustrate two sections for each shelf B; namely, I0 and II, it will be apparent that as many sections as may be desired may be connected together by the links I2 which hingedly connect the sections I0 and I I together so that the sections may slide in the track portions I1 and I9. c

In operating the shelves B Vwhere a pair rof shelves are employed as illustrated in Figures l and 9, sections of the .shelf B may be slid back out of operating position by releasing the locking angle 25 as heretofore set forth, and positioning it in complemental openings 26 formed in the top of the trackways I1 and I9 back from the front end of the'track. Recesses 39 are also provided in the track'sections I1 and I9 for the ends of the front portions I4 when the shelf B is slid back so that only the front section ID, for example, is in shelf operating position. It will also be apparent that where a. series of slidable shelves B are used, as illustrated in Figure l and as shown in the plan sectional view of Figure 8, either of the shelves B may be pushed The idea of this slidable sectional shelf resides Y mainly in providinga shelf construction in a Arefrigerator which does lnot necessarilyhave to 'refrigerator for ilarger and taller' articles than will fit under the shelf, without the shelf interferingwith the same, yet maintaining the shelf sections in readiness for use .at any time.

It is also apparent that the slidable shelves 'B maybe removed entirely from the track portions l1 and I9 if it is desired, 'by releasing the lugs through the openings 25, 26 and 30. 'The shelves B are readily slidable to fully extend the same as illustrated in Figures l and 8. When the shelves are extended theyare in locked position -by Athe engagement of the angle lugs 25 in `the slots 26. To unlock the shelves, the front bai` I4 is engaged and the entire shelf B is pulled forward until the angle members 25 are in released position below the notches or slots 25. Then the front end of the shelf B may be raised to lift the angle lugs 25 out of the track and permit the same to slide along the top of the track until the shelf is in the desired position, registering with the notches 26' and 30, whereupon, the shelf can be locked in this position which would give half the shelf space to the shelf B as the front section I0 would be in shelf operating position. Therefore, this slidabl-e sectional shelf construction may readily be positioned within the ordinary refrigerator compartment supported by the track portions so that the shelf will operate for more or less shelf space as the case may require.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles, operation, and. construction of my invention; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that these are only suggestive of a means of carrying out my invention, and that obvious changes may be made Within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

l. A shelf for refrigerators and the like, comprising a series of rigid shelf sections hinged together, a channel-shaped track for the sides of said shelf having horizontal and vertical portions extending within the refrigerator compartment, openings formed leading into said track,

lugs projecting from the sides of the front shelf sections and adapted to enter through said openings in said track to removably support said shelf on said track, lug means projecting from the sides of the rear shelf sections and engaging said track, and means for locking said shelf in different positions in said track.

2. A slidable removable shelf for refrigerators including a series of rectangular shelf sections. each of which is formed by an endless peripheral wire frame, and a series of shelf wires parallelly disposed and rigidly secured to said wire frame, means hingedly connecting said sections together to form a complete shelf, track means for holding said shelf slidably positioned within a refrigerator compartment, said track including a pair of parallelly extending channels, lug means projecting from said frames of said sections and engaging in said track portions, and lug means projecting from the front shelf sections engaging on top of said track means, said track means having a horizontal portion adapted to support said shelf in a horizontal position and a vertical. portion in close proximity to a vertical wall of the refrigerator compartment but spaced therefrom, whereby said shelf may be slid into a vertical .position `between the wall of the refrigerator compartment and said vertical portion of 'said track.

3. A sectional vslidable shelf for refrigerators including shelf' sections hingedly connected together, each section being formed with an endless wire peripheral frame, a series of shelf wires parallelly disposed and having their ends welded to said frame portion, the front section of said shelf being formed with ailat finishing strip to form the front edge of each shelf proper, track means for slidably supporting said shelf sections, lug means projecting from said shelf sections adapted to slidably engage said track means, said track means having portions xed to the sidewalls of the refrigerator compartment, a double center track portion, an adjustable s'tandardfor supporting the forward end of the horizontalv portion of said double track portion, vertical portions formed in the side track portions and said double center track portion, means for supporting said vertically extending portion of said double track portion spaced from the rear wall of the refrigerating compartment, and means for slidably positioning said shelf sections in said track portions, whereby said shelf portions may be fully extended or any of said shelf sections may be moved out of operating position and extending parallel with the inner Wall of the refrigerator.

4. A sectional slidable shelf for refrigerators, said shelf being made in sections which are hingedly connected together, channel-shaped track means for slidably supporting said shelf sections, lug means projecting from said shelf sections adapted to slidably engage said track means, horizontal and vertical portions formed in said track means, said vertical portions of said track being spaced from the inner wall of a refrigerator to provide a space for the shelf to slide between the track and the wall when the shelf is moved out of operating position, said track means having openings to receive said lug means, and means for locking said shelf sections in different adjusted positions in said track means, said shelf sections being removably supported by said track means.

5. A slidable shelf for refrigerators including a pair of shelf sections hingedly connected together, each section forming a rigid shelf when extended, lug means projecting from the side edges of said shelf sections, a channel-shaped track7 said lug means slidably engaging in and on top of said track to slidably support said shelf in a refrigerator in a manner to hold said shelf sections in horizontal position and slidable into a vertical position a section at a time, openings leading into said track means for said lug means to removably support said shelf on said track, and a finishing strip across the front section of said shelf adapted to act as a shoulder for engagement with the front end of said track to lock said shelf in fully extended position.

6. A slidable shelf for refrigerators including a pair of shelf sections hingedly connected together, each section forming a rigid shelf when extended, lug means projecting from the side edges of said shelf sections, a channel-shaped track, said lug means slidably engaging in and on top of said track to slidably support said shelf in a refrigerator in a manner to hold said shelf sections in horizontal position and slidable into a vertical position, a section at a time, openings leading into said track means for said lug means to removably support said shelf on said track, a

nishing strip across the front section of said shelf adapted to act as a shoulder for engagement With the front end of said track to lock said shelf in fully extended position, and locking means formed by some of the openings in said track which form a recess for the ends of said :finishing strip when the shelf is moved to a partially extended position.

7. A slidable shelf for cabinets having inner walls including a pair of shelf hingedly connected sections, lug means projecting from the sides of said shelf sections adapted to slidably support said` shelf, channel-shaped track means for receiving said projecting lugs on said shelf, some of said lugs projecting in and some on top of said track means, openings into said track means for releasably admitting the lugs of said shelf, portions of. said track extending horizontally in the cabinet and portions extending parallel to the wall of the cabinet to support said shelf either in a horizontal position or in practically a vertical position with the wall of the cabinet.

8. A shelf for cabinets having inner Walls, a series of shelf hingedly connected sections, means projecting from the sides of said shelf sections adapted to slidably support said shelf, channelshaped track means for receiving said projecting lug means on said shelf, said lugs projecting in and some on top of said track means, openings into said track means for releasablyradmitting the lugs of said shelf, portions of said track extending horizontally in the cabinet and portions extending parallel to the wall of the cabinet to support said shelf either in a horizontal position or in practically a vertical position with the Wall of the cabinet, and means in said track for locking said shelf sections in horizontal, and partially withdrawn positions.

ENOCH SWEDMAN. 

